Var champions league

Manchester City's English striker Raheem Sterling (centre) runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg football match against Schalke 04. (Oli SCARFF/AFP) City had snatched two late goals to win the first leg 3-2 and they made the most of that fightback with a ruthless demolition job at the Etihad Stadium to clinch a 10-2 last-16 aggregate victory. Sergio Aguero's penalty opened the scoring in the 35th minute and the Argentine forward netted again soon afterwards before Leroy Sane, who also contributed three assists, struck against his former club. Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Gabriel Jesus all scored after the interval to complete City's biggest home win in the Champions League. Guardiola's side, who lifted the League Cup in February, remain on course for an unprecedented quadruple, sitting one point ahead of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League before this weekend's FA Cup quarter-final at Swansea. "After the first goal we … [Read more...] about Man City crush Schalke 7 0 to reach Champions League quarter finals

Manchester United's Marcus Rashford (left) celebrates after scoring his side's third goal against Paris Saint Germain during the Champions League round of 16, second leg football match. (Photo source: AP/Francois Mori) PARIS: Marcus Rashford scored a stoppage-time penalty awarded after a VAR review to give Manchester United a stunning 3-1 win away to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday (Mar 6) as they improbably went through to the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals. A seriously depleted United looked to have given themselves too much to do after losing 2-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie last month, yet a Romelu Lukaku brace in the first half at the Parc des Princes gave them hope. Even so, Juan Bernat had netted in between for PSG, and it looked as though they would stumble on until the drama at the death. Slovenian referee Damir Skomina awarded a spot-kick after reviewing the images when he had been alerted of a possible handball by PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe in … [Read more...] about Last gasp penalty sends Man Utd into Champions League quarter finals

Juventus' Leonardo Bonucci (left) kicks the ball in front of Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa during the Champions League round of 16 first leg football match. (Source: AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Ronaldo returned to the Spanish capital, where he enjoyed unprecedented success in this tournament with Real, but it was their rivals celebrating at the final whistle as goals from Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin put Atletico within sight of the quarter-finals. "We are not through yet," Atletico coach Diego Simeone said. "There is another match to play and we know we will have to suffer." "Fortunately we didn't concede a third," said Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri. "Because 2-0 is a result that can be turned around. We're not dead yet." But this was a victory that Simeone's side fully deserved. Antoine Griezmann had hit the crossbar while VAR twice intervened, correctly, in Juve's favour, cancelling a penalty for a foul on Diego Costa and then ruling out an Alvaro Morata header just before … [Read more...] about Atletico beat Juventus 2 0 in Champions League last 16, first leg

The video assistant referee (VAR) system was used to rule out a goal in the Champions League for the first time in Wednesday's (Feb 13) last 16 game between Ajax and Real Madrid. VAR technology make its debut at Champions League matches. (Photo: AFP/Nicolas Tucat) Ajax defender Nicolas Tagliafico appeared to have headed the Dutch side ahead on 38 minutes, but referee Damir Skomina disallowed the goal after Dusan Tadic was shown to be offside on replays. Tadic was deemed to be interfering with Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after the Belgian spilled a header at a corner and Tagliafico nodded in the rebound. UEFA later confirmed why the decision was taken. "The referee identified that Tagliafico's team-mate Dusan Tadic was in an offside position and interfering with the goalkeeper - preventing him from playing or being able to play the ball - as the header was being made," said UEFA on Twitter. "This was in line with VAR protocol and the goal was correctly overturned and a … [Read more...] about VAR denies Ajax goal in Real Madrid Champions League clash

Pep Guardiola admitted that his Manchester City side benefited from "a ridiculous penalty" award in their win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the group stage. (Photo: AFP/Paul Ellis) Manchester United host Paris Saint-Germain at Old Trafford on Tuesday while Roma play Porto at the Stadio Olimpico as the last 16, first legs get under way. The system which was used during last year's FIFA World Cup, and is now widely called upon in most of Europe's leading leagues, was initially set to be rolled out in the Champions League from the start of next season. However, it will now make its debut six months earlier than anticipated. "If we can do it before, why not" pondered Ceferin of an initiative which had been opposed by his predecessor, Michel Platini. The decision to bring forward its use follows lobbying from top clubs including Juventus, whose chairman, Andrea Agnelli, is also president of the powerful European Club Association (ECA), a union of the continent's biggest teams. The Italian was … [Read more...] about No excuses as VAR set for Champions League debut